stuck between two // Pedri and Gavi

10 - Phone Numbers

Victoria's Perspective

I can't believe I told Pedri all that. I'm almost always very careful to keep my problems to myself. Pretend it is all fine. And then he just acts friendly and gives me concerned eyes and I tell him all about Luis and how I'm breaking up with him, even though I hardly know this Pedri.

There's just something about his shining brown eyes. His smile that curves up in a smile so easily, so often. The concern and care in his voice. It feels nice to think someone might actually care.

I remind myself that he probably doesn't. He's probably just going to try to use me, because I'm pretty. He's a freaking rich famous football player. Of course those are his plans.

Yet I don't want to believe it. He has this really sexy smirk and a cute haircut. I think there's a lot of things I really like about him. At least I really like about the him that he's showing me right now.

My mind goes back to Gavi, as my eyes wander over to him. I'm drying in a towel. It's getting later in the day, and I'm preparing to go home. He has a square jaw and a lot of tiny little beauty marks. There's a very little bit of stubble on his face that's hardly noticeable, but I believe he's always clean-shaven. His hair is wet and falling in strings over his forehead, and his eyes are focused on De Jong, who is talking to him, explaining something. Gavi's brown eyes seem to laugh a bit, and he keeps nodding, and every so often will put in his own comment, although I can't hear them from here.

They're both very handsome young men. All of the guys here are, actually.

"Leaving now?" Pedri asks from behind, apparently back. He rests a hand over my shoulder, turning me around to look at him.

"Yeah... I think so."

"Alright," he smiles. "I'll give you my number then. You know. If you want to, or need to, text tonight. I know you've got plans. So... Well, yeah, with your boyfriend. I'll be there to listen. I'd love to." He grabs a paper and pen out of seemingly nowhere and scribbles something down, before handing my the paper that reads.

Pedri- XXX-XXX-XXXX 

I put on a smile. I feel happy, but not enough for a smile back, because at the same time, I also feel unsure. A little nervous. I don't know if this is smart. "Well, thanks, Pedri," I say. "It has been a pleasure to meet you."

"Oh, no, it's my pleasure," he grins, before wrapping me in a hug, which feels so good. This hug feels different from Luis's hugs. It feels more friendly. Stronger. And kinder. It feels caring. Very, very caring. Finally, he pulls away, his eyes travelling over me a few seconds as his hands hold each of my shoulders. "Well, bye, Victoria. "I'll see you later, right?"

"Of course," I say, because there's nothing else I can say.

Then I wave one last time and walk to the gate. On the way out, I thank the lifeguard for everything, and he nods with a friendly smile, saying he hopes to see me there again. I feel myself blush, as I did at all of Pedri's slight flirting all this time, too. Pedri even pointed it out teasingly, which just made me blush all the more.

Just as I'm about to close the gate behind me, though, I stop at a voice behind me, saying, "Wait!" Suddenly, there's a different hand on my shoulder.

It's not calloused and more dry, like Pedri's hand, but rather it feels more slender and smooth. Don't get me wrong though- it's still a strong hand with a good grip.

I spin around to face Gavi, and our eyes meet. "Yeah?" I ask him in surprise.

He stands there awkwardly a few seconds, like a deer in headlights. Like not even he knows why he's there, or what he's doing. I'm about to ask more, before he clears his throat, saying, "Uh... you're Victoria, right?"

I nod. "Yes, that's my name..."

"Right, uh..."

"Yes?" I shift my weight to my other foot, scratching my ear, nervous to meet his eyes for some reason. Pedri is much better at talking...

Finally, he shoves his hand out in front of him, where a slip of paper is laying in the palm of his hand. "Here, take this," he blurts, putting on a cute little smile, looking into my eyes so hard I'm forced to look back and meet his eyes.

He's obviously not the best with talking. He can't find the words. He gets tongue-tied. That's obvious. But those eyes seem to tell me everything. His thoughts and emotions. They say what his mouth just can't seem to get out and explain properly.

I smile, taking the slip of paper from his hand. "Thank you, Gavi. I'll be sure to text you."

"Okay," he smiles, and it really is a very real and true smile. It kind of is very bright, now that he actually shows it to me. I want to ask him so many questions. Why he acted so disinterested before but now he's asking for my number, is my biggest question.

But instead, I say, scratching the back of my neck, "Well, Gavi... I guess I should go now, huh?"

"Right... Bye," he responds quickly, and just like that, he's off.

Gavi's Perspective

"So, you gave her your number?" Ferran asks, and I decide that today I don't like Ferran. Tomorrow I'll like him again, but today he's annoying.

"Yeah, and you oughta quit this Mr. Matchmaker you've been playing, buddy."

He snorts at this as I sink back into the pool next to him, sitting down on the bench. "Sheesh, sorry. I mean, you wouldn't shut up about the girl. It seemed only natural to point out that you should just give her your number."

"It was stupid, Ferran," I sigh. "I shouldn't have. Pedri is obviously shooting for her, so I should just keep out of it! You know how I hate drama, dude! And, besides that, I made an absolute fool of myself in front of her, too."

"What did you do?" Ferran asks, all excited for fuel to tease me.

I sigh, reluctant, to tell, but then finally explain to him how I became completely frozen, seeming to forget the whole Spanish vocabulary in that moment. I finish with, "So even if Pedri wasn't in the picture, I've still failed on day one."

"Failed?" Ferran says. "Man, you're so interested in her."

"Am not," I mutter. I'm not trying to convince myself of that than Ferran. It's me who is believing lies, not Ferran, which is nerve-racking.

"Dude, you wouldn't shut up about how 'there's something about her', and 'she seems really nice', and 'her curls are really nice'. Like oh my goodness if you think she's hot and you wanna date her then just say so. And now you're saying you've failed. If you weren't trying to charm her, that wouldn't be a failure. If you didn't care, I wouldn't be talking to you right now!"

I sigh, feeling uncomfortable. "Ferran, shut up. I don't need relationship advice from you," I say sarcastically. "Nothing will come of it, because Pedri is much better at talking and being understanding and making girls like him and all that crap. I suck at it. Like, gosh, even if I wanted one, which I really don't at all, no matter what you say, I'll never get a girlfriend, just because I can't talk."

"You can't talk? That's strange, since you're venting at me this very moment," Ferran comments, which just annoys me, because he's such a snot about always being right.

I roll my eyes, before finally getting up, saying, "I'm leaving now, Ferran. I've had enough of you. Bye."

"Bye bye, Gavi. I love you, too!" He blows me a kiss, before snickering to himself.

Ugh.

I can't believe I really gave her my number. I shouldn't have. I should have ignored the feelings. The intrigued ball in my stomach. The spark of warmth down my spine. I should have ignored it.

I hope she doesn't text me.

Because just that one stupid action could be some huge starting of unnecessary drama that I would rather not deal with.

Gosh, I hope Pedri just gets with her and they're happy and she forgets about me and

I'll just watch them from a distance and wish I wasn't so awful with girls.

I'll just watch and wish I could have that just like I do with everyone else.